RACE TO THE FINISH LINE
GEELONG, CORIO IN THE THICK OF IT
THIS weekend’s break due to the catch-up round could not have come at a better time for Geelong SC as the competition leaders head into the final three rounds of the State League 1 campaign with just a solitary point separating it from sister club and raging hot title favourites Preston Lions.
With the former NSL club in scintillating seasonending form having won its last six league matches, Geelong’s Lions will use the break to regroup and draw a line in the sand.
Despite its unfortunate 1-0 loss to third-placed North Sunshine last week, Geelong president Mick Nikolovski remains optimistic about his club’s title winning chances.
“Preston is a big club with big expectations. And they are expecting nothing less than promotion to the NPL. All the pressure is squarely on them and they know they need to catch us,” Nikolovski said, adamant that NPL2 football will be played at Stead Park next season. “The mood around the club and in the dressing rooms is fantastic. The boys are all upbeat, we are still in the box seat.”
Following the break, Geelong will host fourthplaced Keilor Park in a tough assignment before making the trek to BT Connor Reserve in Melbourne’s north to tackle Preston in front of an expected 3000-strong crowd.
“We will take one week at a time, we just need to follow our processes, but in the end the ball is firmly in our court,” Nikolovski said.
Just a few kilometres away, in the cosmopolitan suburb of Bell Park, Corio SC is in a slightly different situation regarding its own promotion aspirations in State League 2.
In third spot and four points off joint leaders Brimbank Stallions and Whittlesea United, the Eagles have impressed in their last five games having drawn twice and won three, including last week’s thrilling 3-2 defeat of Hume United. Regardless of the outcome, club president Mario Gregorio says his young team has performed admirably all year. “The squad has done myself and the club proud. They have executed (coach) Ante Didulica’s game plan perfectly,” he said. “All we can do now is win our final three games and hope other results fall our way for our dream promotion back to State League 1 to happen this year.” Next week, Corio is away to third last Mill Park before hosting fifth-placed Westgate and finishing its campaign with an away trip to second-last placed Westvale. Gregorio and his men will be keen to pounce on any stumble the two leaders might endure.